A new start after years of depression

Having spent most of my life with ups and downs and never being able to understand why, I was finally diagnosed with severe depression. During the worst times of depression I tried to counter the effect (as I did not understand what was wrong) by buying happiness, I never bought luxurious things but just thought that if I used money to make others happy that would help me feel better. The downside of this was that it did not work and I fell deeper into a state of depression. This depression along with money problems,means I am in real danger of losing my kids and my house. I have finally admitted to myself that I need help and that I can not fix everything myself. The challenge I face today is that the financial institutions do not take into account mental health issues and whilst I am in a much better place I face a challenge never experienced before. I have never asked anyone for anything and I have no idea what people would think of me but as a last hope I would try....